The Dark Ember

Back to School

Once back at school Hope ran off to her room, Ric said "Welcome back Emberlyn." I said "Really Dr. Saltzman? You sent Kaleb to babysit me?" He said, "Was it needed?" I rolled my eyes and he said "Emberlyn, you are in an interesting predicament, you feel the darkness most witches don't feel it unless they actively use dark magic. You feel it all the time, even worse when the Hollow is nearby. Hope said your dad was there. The same father who houses a part of the hollow. One day you will see what we do is with your best interest at heart. Your not like Hope who can block it all out. Your more like Lizzie who explodes." I groaned and Kaleb said, "Let's go, you got friends to see." I let him drag me off, the girls tackled me in a hug, and MG waited till they were done before pulling me into a hug. Let me explain to my friends for a second.

Josie, also known as Josette Olivia Saltzman, is a siphon Gemini Witch and also a twin to Lizzie. She is shy, sweet, and constantly cleans up Lizzie's messes. She is currently heartbroken as she and her girlfriend another witch named Penelope broke up, she also has a massive crush on my very own twin sister Hope. Lizzie, also known as Elisabeth Jenna Saltzman is a siphon Gemini Witch and also a twin to Josie. She is confident, popular, a bitch, and has bipolar which makes her similar to me as we both have problems with our emotions. She tries to date all the boys who enroll. Next up is MG, also known as Milton Greasley is a vampire and an absolute delight to have as a friend, he is loyal, trustworthy, fun to be around, and adorable as can be. He is so in love with Lizzie it's ridiculous and the kicker is she doesn't see it. Next is Jed, also known as Jedidah Tien he is the werewolf alpha here in school. He is a bully, yes but he is also protective and fierce and I know if I need help, or to cry, he is there for me. He is the very first person I met here at 7 years old. My final and best friend is Kaleb also known as Kaleb Hawkins, he is a vampire. Kaleb is protective of me, he is understanding, loyal, trustworthy, and honestly, he is as oblivious as Lizzie. I know this because I have loved him for years, ever since he first walked into this school.  

I hung out with them then went back to my room and laid on Hope's bed and looked at what she was doing. I said "Locator spell? Trying to find mom?" she said, "Yeah, but nothing is working so far." I sighed and rolled over onto my back, all of a sudden there was a knock at the door. Hope laid the spell book on my stomach and went to answer the door. Hope said, "W-What happened?" I sat up, the book slid to my lap and Freya said "Uh, oh, no, nothing. Uh, no, your... your father has search parties scouring every inch of the city. We'll find her." I let out the breath I was holding and Hope said "I just... When I saw you, I thought that she... yeah. So, wait, if she's still missing, then why are you here?" Freya said "Care package. Thought you girls could use a taste of home." I said, "So you drove all this way to bring us beignets?" Freya said, "You know, I figured with everything going on, you both could use a friend."

Hope said "Thanks, but we're really fine." Freya said "Mm-hmm. You know, I could be wrong, but, um, I think this is the part where you invite me in." Hope said "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah." she came and sat on the bed with me and Hope and said "Locator spells in ancient languages? Thought you weren't allowed to do magic outside of the classroom." Hope said "Catch-up reading. We're trying to make up for being suspended." I said, "Name one witch in this school that follows that rule, not even the headmaster's daughters follow that rule." Freya said "Mm-hmm." I said, "To keep our grades up." Hope said, "We got to get back to work, aunt Freya." Freya said "Sure. Sure, I mean, I could just leave after an excruciating 11-hour drive to see my only two nieces. Or... we could get comfy, stuff our faces with deep-fried glory, and you could tell me about that cute boy you had hidden in your room last week, and the one with his arms wrapped around Emmy calming her down." I bit my lip forcing myself not to blush as Hope said "Yeah he pulled her on his lap and I thought dad was gonna rip out his heart." 

I headed for the door and said "He is just a friend." they followed me and Freya said, "Yeah but you don't sound happy with it." We walked outside to the field and I said "He doesn't know." Freya said "What?" Hope said, "Kaleb doesn't know she likes him." Freya said, "And why not?" I said, "Because what if it's one-sided and he doesn't like me back?" She said "You have to be confident and you'll never know if you never try. What about you Hope? which one is he?" she said "The hot one that sweats diamond dust." Roman waved to Hope and she said "Oh, God. Keep-keep walking." Freya said, "Wait, you're not gonna wave back?" Hope said, "No, pretty sure, uh, his ego can handle it." Freya said "Hey, so... that stuff you were studying earlier. Alchemy of the Iberian Peninsula? Magic of the Middle East?" I said, "We're examining regional magic as it relates to sociopolitical and economic statuses." Freya said, "So, what exactly are the sociopolitical implications of breaking powerful cloaking spells?"

Hope said "What do you want us to say? Our mom's missing." Freya said, "Trying to break every possible spell in those books by yourself would take a thousand years." I said "This is exactly why we didn't want to tell you. And guess what? You and the witches haven't gotten anywhere. We're coming at it from a different angle." Freya said "Okay." Hope said "I'm the one that put the cloaking spell on her in the first place. Maybe we can find a way to lift it without being in the room with her." Freya said, "And the fact that that's never been done in the history of witchcraft isn't going to deter you." I said, "We can't just sit around and do nothing." Freya said "All right, then. Let's get to work."